Synthesis and morphology control of a tetra-functional epoxy/polyethylenepolyamine monolithic porous polymers aspiring to selective molecular adsorption

Ring-opening addition reactions between pentaerythritol tetra(oxiran-2-ylmethyl) ether [pentaerythritol polyglycidyl ether (PPE)] and polyethylenepolyamine, i.e., ethylenediamine (EDA), diethylenetriamine (DETA), triethylenetetramine (TETA), and tetraethylenepantamine (TEPA), have been investigated to yield network polymers. The reactions in ethanol under the equivalent molar ratio of epoxy and NH groups, [epoxy]/[NH] = 1.0 mol/mol, at 60 ºC successfully yielded porous polymers. The surface morphology of the porous polymers showed connected particles with the diameters ranged from bout 5 μm to 20 μm. The monomer concentration and molecular structure of the polyethylenepolyamine compound affected the particle size in the porous polymers. All the porous polymers were sufficiently soft and flexible to be unbroken under 40 N of compression. The porous polymers absorbed various solvents and showed high water permeability. The porous polymers adsorbed an anionic dye selectively. Surface treatment of a porous polymer by alkali aq. made it possible to adsorb a cationic dye.